Theresa May REJECTS India’s call for UK visas in return for trade deals
THERESA May tonight rejected India’s calls to be granted more visas for its nationals to come to the UK as part of trade deals.
The Prime Minister rejected India’s calls for UK visas as part of trade deals
She insisted Britain gives India a good deal with more work visas issued to its nationals than to the US, China, Australia and Canada combined.
She said: “We have a good system.”
On her first visit to India as PM, she will unveil plans to streamline the visa process for Indian workers arriving in Britain as well as visas for very rich executives.
But sources stressed this was about easing progress, not increasing the numbers allowed in.
The Indian government had raised concerns about the UK’s handling of the immigration issue ahead of Mrs May’s trade-promoting visit.
On her first visit to India as PM, she will unveil plans to streamline the visa process
We have a good system
The UK announced last week it would be tougher for Indian workers transferred to company HQs in the UK to get visas.
They will now have to earn £30,000 a year in the UK, up from £20,800, amid fears they were undercutting British workers’ wages.
Intra-company visas are heavily used to bring skilled workers to Britain from India’s high-tech industry.
Theresa May: UK - EU relationship must BENEFIT economy
India also wants a better visa deal for its students, who pay £102 to stay in Britain for up to 180 days while Chinese visitors pay £87 to stay for up to two years.
A New Delhi government spokesman said Mrs May must show “by deed not just words that she cares for India. There is a sense that she is anti-immigrant”.